Sunday, March 30, 2014

Palestinian unilateral actions?!

It was allegedly reported that
Israel had offered to Palestinians, through the US, “to release 400 prisoners
in exchange for agreeing to extend peace talks by
several months and for Palestinians not taking unilateral steps at the United
Nations during that period”.

Does it stand to reason? When
have Palestinians ever taken “unilateral” steps or actions? Turning to the UN
cannot in any way be considered a “unilateral” step or action. It is not
illegal to turn to the UN. In fact, it is the right place for Palestinians to
raise the injustices that they face on a daily basis, and to illustrate Israeli
persistence in violating international law, including the UN Charter.

It is only Israel which has
always taken unilateral actions. Israel unilaterally and illegally annexed
Jerusalem in 1967. Israel unilaterally and illegally annexed the Syrian Golan
Heights in 1981. Israel unilaterally and illegally continues to annex
Palestinian lands and to create facts on the ground, including through the
illegal settlement policy and Separation Wall. Israel unilaterally and
illegally attempts to determine the borders of the future Palestinian State.